Why location tracking matters now
Over the last few years, two trends collided:
- Laptops became the primary work device.
- Work moved outside the office — cafés, homes, coworking spaces.
As a result, companies face new questions:
- “Where was this laptop last active before it disappeared?”
- “Are our remote employees actually working from approved regions?”
Traditional GPS tracking is invasive and often illegal. Doing nothing is risky. Last‑known device location offers a privacy‑balanced middle ground.
Use case 1: Recover stolen or lost laptops
In countries like South Africa, Brazil, and parts of Europe, laptop theft is a weekly reality for IT teams.
When a device disappears, the first 24 hours matter. Police and insurance companies almost always ask:
“Do you know where the laptop was last used?”
MonitUp answers that question automatically:
- Last city where the laptop was active
- Date and time of last connection
- Device identifier linked to the employee
This information can:
- Support police reports
- Speed up insurance claims
- Trigger security actions (account lock, investigation)
Learn more in our Security & DLP suite.
Use case 2: Remote & hybrid workforce visibility
Remote work unlocked flexibility, but also uncertainty.
Many companies now operate with:
- Country‑based contracts
- Regional data‑residency rules
- Timezone‑dependent collaboration
Location Tracker helps answer critical questions:
- Which city was this device used from today?
- Did a “remote” employee actually move countries?
- Are teams working from approved locations?
This isn’t micromanagement; it’s operational clarity in a distributed world.
Want to boost hybrid workforce productivity? Location data pairs perfectly with our focus metrics.
Microsoft Teams joins the trend
Even Microsoft is moving in this direction. In their June 2025 announcement, Microsoft detailed how Teams can auto‑detect a user’s work location via Wi‑Fi and peripherals — proof that location awareness is becoming a workplace standard.
MonitUp brings the same benefit at the device level, where security truly starts.
How MonitUp Location Tracker works
1. Capture
The Windows agent collects public IP and Wi‑Fi SSID every 60 minutes and on boot.
2. Resolve
IP data converts to city‑level latitude/longitude via trusted MaxMind GeoLite2 lookup.
3. Store
Each record saves with timestamp, accuracy and method — creating an auditable location history.
4. Display
Admins see the last‑known position on an OpenStreetMap view plus a timeline of hops.
Inside the dashboard
- Map view with last‑known location
- 30‑day location history per device
- Filters by employee, device or date
- CSV export for audits or reports
Privacy & compliance notes
- City‑level only — no street GPS tracking
- Disabled by default & opt‑in per organization
- Admin‑controlled, access fully audit‑logged
- Designed for GDPR, PDPL & CCPA‑friendly usage
For end‑to‑end security, pair Location Tracker with our Policy Monitoring & DLP features.
FAQ
Is this real‑time tracking?
No. It records the last known active location, not live GPS.
Can VPNs affect accuracy?
Yes. VPN exit nodes show their own city instead of the laptop’s.
Is this included in all plans?
Yes. Location Tracker is part of every MonitUp plan.
Published Dec 24, 2025 • 7‑minute read